Yes, I'm putting my 4th grader in school next year. Yes, it was a hard decision. Yes, I know why people homeschool and how wonderful it is. Yes, I wish I could homeschool her without having stress levels that make me dizzy as I do so. No, I am not super-woman and apparently am not strong enough to do it through decent adversity. Yes, I understand that you have some adverse situations, run a business, and have a ton of kids, but until you walk in my shoes, don't tell me how homeschooling can be really easy and all you have to do is let your children read books and they'll be fine. Nope. I don't buy it. I want to prepare my children with at close to grade level math as they can get and actually get them to be able to write a decent paper if needed. I want to stop wondering if my daughter's math issues are because she fights me despite my efforts to make it palatable. I want to know that if someone else teaches her that she'll actually try harder because ultimately, she wants to please. I want to have emotional energy to get her through the pre-teen/teen years successfully and stop checking out of our relationship because homeschooling saps any relational energy I have with her for the entire day. I have a special needs child that doesn't mean ADHD or mild autism. I have an 18 year baby. Try homeschooling a spirited child while you're cleaning up a smelly diaper from an adult male or doing the airplane method to try to get him to eat. Do that times 5 years and we'll chat about how homeschooling is so great. Also, get past 3rd grade into the junior high and high school years and let's talk about how just reading is good. I don't like arguing on Facebook. It solves nothing. Also, my husband does not have the mental energy to hear this either. He's right now in the hospital with my youngest spirited child who just went through surgery #5 to correct cleft lip/palate issues. Yes, I used to believe homeschooling should be for everyone. I kept those opinions to myself as the years went on. I will help those who want to homeschool. I will keep my opinion to myself if you choose otherwise.

This was her 5th surgery to repair the cleft issues. It is not uncommon. I have a friend whose son had 13 surgeries to repair the cleft.

I know this is a really small percentage of people here, but enough homeschoolers adopt, so here goes. We adopted my daughter from China with a repaired cleft lip/palate. She had been having mild problems with speech so yesterday, she had a speech surgery which just means they reconstructed her palate. Come to find out, the Chinese doctors surgically fixed the crack in her palate but failed completely to connect the muscles up there. So, all this time, we had assumed they had fixed it correctly because her speech wasn't horrible, just a little nasally. Turns out, they did it wrong (I guess according to common medical practice here). So, she is now fixed correctly. In some ways, that helped us justify putting her through this. We were a little on the fence about it.

She should not be allowed to just go free, but the possibility of a long prison sentence seems not right either. I guess it's the fairly new thing about how our conversations and actions are now recorded and able to be used in a court of law. I'm sure in the past this has happened verbally but was never able to be proven. Yes, teens say stupid things and may mean nothing by them. Like those examples of texts above texting other teens to "just go kill yourself". It is a stupid stupid off handed remark, but could those texts be admissible in a court of law as accusatory? I guess the thing is that teen stupid behavior and speech has never been able to be documented. New guidelines need to be thought out about technology. It seems like it's jumping ahead of us a bit.

This is how I see it. The thinking patterns of some of the teens I know is obviously not at an adult level. So, yes, there should be some sort of consequence to this, but I do think the sentence is harsh. I know of a teen that has some deep anxiety problems. One day she's so in love with her boyfriend, the next, she breaks up with him. She thinks that the short term medical facility she's in is a great place because everyone understands her. Mom is wonderful one day, horrible the next. This is not the mind of a rational adult. I guess I see a teen who is not thinking correctly texting another teen who is not thinking correctly. I can understand the harsh penalty if it was an adult counselor in a position of trust that did this. A teen who's already dealing with mental health issues - not so much.

I just saw this and honestly, it scares me for my children and their friends. Basically, she told another teen to commit suicide and instructed him to follow through with it. For her part, she was sentenced with involuntary manslaughter. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/16/us/suicide-texting-trial-michelle-carter-conrad-roy.html I'm not quite sure what to say about this. I'm sure this has happened before where one teen instructed another teen to commit suicide. There was just never any physical proof of it. Now, with cell phones, all that information can be retrieved. Along with that was a small high school in Colorado where a good amount of students were involved with transmitting naked pictures of other students via their cell phones. It's a felony. One I'm pretty sure none of the students involved were aware of. Just wow.

Ditto on seeing the curve of the earth on top of a mountain. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I am also putting my dd into 4th grade this year because I am worn out from teaching her and I am taking care of my disabled 18 year old son. I have struggled and struggled with the decision because I have so many friends that have homeschooled with challenging medical problems (theirs and their children). They have homeschooled despite hard pregnancies, job losses, and every hard issue you can imagine. I have some who homeschooled despite the obvious toll it was taking on their marriage. I know why they do it, but I'm really starting to question the wisdom with it. Yes, their children did turn out OK academically, but some are behind a full grade or more due to the struggles. So, I guess I'm applauding you for trusting that God can care for your children in a public school setting also. I'm applauding you for looking at your self and your health and considering your limitations. A podcast you may want to listen to is this: http://www.homeschoolingirl.com/episodes/episode-147-when-homeschoolers-judge

I thought this was just my family! So, it's a normal kid thing?!?! This just strikes me as odd overall.

My family wants to know if other families go through these stages of "development". Each of my children has done this with no knowledge of the other child doing the same. Here are the stages each of my children have gone through. There is 4 years difference between the second two and 2 1/2 years difference with the last one. She was adopted at 2 1/2 so she missed seeing the first stage. 1. The tape stage. Everything has to be taped. They go through spools and spools of tape to the point that I make them purchase their own because it gets ridiculous. 2. The string stage. They find a ball of string or yarn and everything is tied together. I come into the kitchen to find a maze of string with all the chairs tied together at some point. They have to make it so that you can't get in their room without going under string. There is string going up the stairs like a map to get out of a dark tunnel...Each child has done this. 3. The cardboard cutting stage. For some reason cardboard is so appealing and they must make something from it. My 2nd child made weapons, the next child made boxes and other contraptions, my 4th child is making giant horses. 4. Finally, the logo stage. #2 child made a logo for his name on the computer and now child #3 has done the same. For some reason, they feel the need to brand themselves. Child #4 has not gotten old enough to make herself a logo so we shall see when she turns 12 to see if that is a trend also. I had no idea that making a logo to set yourself apart from everyone else was a trend, but it has become so. It's not like these trends overlap. As in one kid does it and the next month, the next child does it. There are years between these stages for each of them. Enough time to forget about the stage. So, is this a normal family thing? Do your kids have these stages also?

As a former missionary who had to raise support, I would ask if the sending agency requires her to raise a budget. They will have counted for student debt load in that budget. Some organizations don't require their missionaries to raise a "salary". They will let anyone with a call and a desire to become a missionary. It works and it doesn't work. If this person is zealous, they may have debt and a faith that says "God will provide". Yes, He does, but I've also seen the fall out from that. Married couples with kids living on less than $500 a month in support is not a pretty thing to see. Lack of proper funding stresses families to the point that they have to put such emphasis on raising support or figuring out how to make a dollar stretch that the mission they are trying to accomplish suffers. So, if the organization does not require her to raise a certain level of support, I would ask the question.

My friend has hashimotos. She went off gluten and has either eliminated or reduced significantly her thyroid meds. Gluten can act like thyroid hormones.

Not sure what prices you are looking at, but I go to a children's hospital in Highland's Ranch and it seems to be a very nice suburb. If you're looking further out, Castle Rock has some cool scenery - everything seems to be built by or on a hill. Colorado Springs is pretty sprawly, but the front range is right there. I can walk one block and see Pikes Peak. Denver doesn't have the mountains as close but on the other hand, an hours drive will get you in the middle of the mountain scenery.

I have nothing against typing either. It's just that under 4th grade, they are learning so many other things that are foundations for learning - math facts, handwriting, spelling, sentence/paragraph structure, and reading that learning how to type and how to run a computer should really be low on the totem pole. I do also have a problem with reading on a computer or an iPad. I personally feel like it teaches people to skim information which is not so horrible as an adult/ late teen, but can really hamper an elementary student. Also, there are enough studies out there that show taking notes on a computer is inferior to writing them down. Again, I know too much. I had to justify my crazy homeschool decision, so I read academic studies on education.

It's not just the public schools that have testing pressure. We have a classical christian school here that we briefly (very) considered at the price of $7K per year. They are heavy handed on the homework so that their students can test well. Then the school can speak of it's superior education model. I couldn't see where the classical part entered into the equation since they did a lot of Bob Jones and Abeka textbooks.

We moved to Colorado Springs a little over two years ago partially due to weather. We lived in Minnesota and every February, I was just moody due to lack of sunshine. Yes. 300 days of sunshine. May is wacky where we live because there are weird blizzards and with low humidity comes a chance of fire, BUT 300 days of sunshine!! Yesterday, the temperature topped off at around 88 degrees but with very little humidity, I had the windows open and a nice breeze was going throughout the house. Also, I was sitting by a pool in the shade watching my daughter and I was not sweating. I was very comfortable. I am almost giddy with summer around here. Winter is sunny too and not too cold (of course I'm comparing it to Minnesota). You can tell this is a popular state right now because houses are going up like crazy where I live and house prices are reflecting the surge.

I can put up with "silliness" to a point. My oldest special needs son went to public school his whole school career and there was a LOT of silliness with him. At the end of his senior year, they were very concerned about his credits since we moved before the school year was over and to put him in for the 3 remaining weeks we had would have taken 3 weeks to get settled. A lot of professionals were trying to figure out how he would make up his science, english, and math credits. This is for a child whose mental age tops off at around two years old. I just didn't even worry about it. Eventually they figured it out. For him, I was able to see it as that consumer mentality. This was their box. I let them worry about their own little box. It never harmed my ds and I just ignored their silliness. I assume I'll have some of that silliness with dd also. She may do this for a limited amount of time. I have no idea. I just don't think the public school - no matter how good - is the end all of education. I do have different options and can always use those options if I'm not liking the "product". I already know one of the requirements is free reading at night. That's where I can have dd read books that are worthwhile. I also know I can opt her out of standardized tests. Another bonus is that my dh can volunteer for non-profits as part of his paid work week. He is going to take care of the required two hours of volunteer time per month. My main problem is that I have researched public education and alternative educational means extensively because it interested me. I have pretty strong opinions. I know I won't be able to change things whole scale if at all. And I also know that I really need a break from being teacher to this child. If I absolutely hate it, in 6th/7th grade, there is a university model school that looks interesting yet affordable. It just doesn't do core subjects until that age. I think I'll be fine - I'm just going to have to keep a lot of opinions to myself.

For the most part, this is my daughter. She went to a co-op for a day a week last year and her teachers raved at what a wonderful child she was. She loved the program. She also found out that although this school has a longer day, they have three recesses. Along with the ability to get their hot lunch program, she is becoming more enthusiastic. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Nope. There is a string of computers in each classroom. It was specifically pointed out on the tour as if I should be very impressed. Maybe they use computers the same way I do - for math drills or looking at pictures of cool things dd wanted to see. I'm more OK with her using computers more as she is in 4th grade. I just don't think it should be a source of pride that there are so many computers in those younger grades. I remember being distressed the first call that I made where they told me dd would have placement testing on a computer of which she was mostly ignorant about. I actually said, "We used books for school..."All I know is that dd loves to learn. She begged me to not sell the k-3rd grade history books because she loved them and reads them constantly. We shall see what a year of this does for her love of learning. I shall also see if having her taught by someone else is worth all the nonsense I'm sure to find.

The test required the child to type a paragraph and other sentences. I told the person of whom I was asking about the test that my daughter did not have any typing skills. Her reply was that most children didn't have typing skills who were taking the test. The little voice yelling in my head was, "Then how can this be an accurate test of their true skills?!?!?!" I refrained.

Yesterday, a woman was canvasing the neighborhood to make sure people had registered their children for the neighborhood charter school and know about the upcoming dates of open houses etc. She commented on how wonderful the school was because it had so many computers. I told her that I understood why schools used computers in elementary grades (mostly to give children a little more individual learning at their own pace) but that overall, I wasn't a fan of using computers so much for elementary students. When they initially told me she needed to take a test on a computer (for 4th grade), I told them they wouldn't get accurate results because my daughter had barely used a computer (I start keyboarding and basic internet skills in 4th grade). They kept telling me, "Well, that's how we test everyone" and couldn't give me an alternative. Thankfully, the testing will be in the fall and she is learning keyboarding this summer. Anyway, the canvaser launched into how we need to compete with a global economy, how we have to compete against immigrants for high tech jobs, and how access to computers will help us do so. That the whole goal of education is to get a good job. I am too well read! I kept thinking about how I want my children to have an education that teaches them how to think and how to learn. A job is a byproduct of a child who can learn anything and think through problems without having been told "this is how you do it". So, when she launched into global economy stuff, I kept my mouth shut and argued with her in my head. It was an "I'm the professional educator and you're a lowly parent" feeling. My daughter is going to school next fall. It was a difficult decision based on her intensity with me (not with other teachers she's had for co-ops) and her strong need to be around others. There's lots of reasons why. I know I cannot change a whole system. I also know that my dh will hear a lot of ranting from me next year. I know this doesn't have to be forever, but I have a strong feeling she will thrive in that setting. I never thought I would ever send a child to public school. Yet, here I am doing just that. So, how do I not let my blood pressure spike when I come across nonsense that I know is going to smack me in the face?

My biggest issue is the sleep thing. My husband calls our bedroom the arctic tundra because I need to have it so cold in there to sleep. I snuggle up in the covers when I go to bed and then around 1 pm...HOT HOT!!! I throw off all the covers, my skin turns cold, and I'm still hot. That wakes up my restless leg thing which needs heat and I'm awake for hours. People also used to tell me I would get irregular periods. What they didn't mention that irregular could also mean every 21 days. My cycle used to last anywhere from 30-35 days. Now, I'm at a "regular" 21 days. That's what annoys me.

If you live in a more metro area, children's hospitals take volunteers. Last time I went, the greeters at the front were volunteers and the greeters on the surgical floor were volunteers. They hand out things like stickers and games to children, make sure the parents are comfortable, and just make sure everyone is as relaxed as possible. If I was in your position, I would find a larger church with a group that interests you. There is one church nearby my home that has a Thursday morning group with people from different churches or even no church. I would probably also volunteer as a math tutor in the school nearby because that is what I enjoy doing.

This is basically what I told her. I told her if it wasn't her facial difference, then it would be something else. For me, it was my red hair. Add to that, when I got hot, my face would get all red also. I was called a tomato head. I told her she has to filter out who she lets define her and her beauty. Those girls should not get to define her. It's just that at her last doctor appointment, the plastic surgeon told her that she could have her lip scar fixed so it wasn't as noticeable. She said, "I like my scar because it reminds me of what I've gone through." Maybe she won't feel the same as she grows up. It's just sad that they had to pick on the one thing that caused all the chaos in her life (she is adopted - most likely abandoned because of the cleft).

My daughter's first reaction was that she was going to go over to the girls and punch them. Yes. That would solve the problem... :glare: Not that I've ever seen her do that...I can see dd also being a mean girl because sometimes she doesn't think before she speaks and will get in your face right away with a venomous backlash if you insult her or someone she loves. I never have worried about her out in the world. I have been working with her for years to temper her angry side.